Summary
A Colorado judge has rejected a plea deal for Carie Hallford, the owner of a funeral home accused of hiding nearly 190 decaying bodies in a building. The judge stated that the proposed 15- to 20-year sentence was too light, and Hallford's guilty plea was withdrawn, leading to a planned trial. Hallford and her husband both face charges related to corpse abuse and have admitted to defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Key Facts
- A judge in Colorado declined a plea agreement for Carie Hallford regarding a case of 190 decaying bodies found in her funeral home's building.
- The rejected plea deal included a 15- to 20-year prison sentence for Hallford.
- Families of the deceased expressed dissatisfaction with the plea deal, saying it was too lenient.
- Carie and Jon Hallford owned Return to Nature Funeral Home and are accused of improper treatment of bodies from 2019 to 2023.
- Both Hallfords have pleaded guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse.
- Carie Hallford's trial is set to begin next year after her guilty plea was withdrawn.
- The case spurred changes in Colorado's funeral home regulations, including mandatory inspections.
- The Hallfords also admitted to fraudulently obtaining nearly $900,000 in federal aid and making personal luxury purchases.
